Fishing nets at Pourville 1882

Claude Monet painted "Fishing Nets at Pourville" during a time of significant social and economic change in France, particularly in coastal communities. The painting captures fishing nets draped over rocks by the sea, set against a turbulent sky. Here, we can see the labor and lives of the working class, specifically those tied to the sea. Monet’s focus on the nets rather than the act of fishing invites us to consider the tools of labor and those whose livelihoods depend on them. The obscured view beyond the nets suggests both the promise and precarity inherent in this way of life. "I want to paint the air in which the bridge, the house and the boat are to be found" Monet once said. This focus shifts our gaze from the bourgeoisie to the often-overlooked individuals who interact daily with the landscape. In this sense, the emotional impact of the painting arises from its grounded perspective and its subtle recognition of human effort within the vastness of nature. The painting thus serves as a poignant meditation on the relationship between labor, nature, and human existence, reflecting societal shifts and the lives of those working on the margins.